Discount Coach Tours strongly recommend you read Avalon Waterways most frequently
asked questions below which is useful information for your trip so that you are
well informed.
What do you need to know while on board?
All rooms on the ships are air conditioned and heated. All ships have individual
controls in the staterooms.
Choice of of complimentary wine, beer or soft drinks will be included with dinner
on Avalon Europe river cruises. In Europe, China and the Galápagos, coffee and tea
are available free of charge throughout the day from "early riser" breakfast through
dinner. In Egypt, sodas are included at lunch and dinner. On the Yangtze wine is
included with all dinners. On the Mekong complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks,
local beer/spirits is available throughout the day and wine is included with dinner.
Dress aboard and on shore is casual. Please bring comfortable walking shoes for
sightseeing. Dinner attire is casual—open-neck shirts, slacks, dresses. Coats and
ties may be worn. The Captain's Welcome and Farewell Dinners are dressy, but not
formal. On the Mekong coats and ties are not recommended due to the warm humid climate.
A professional, experienced, English-speaking Cruise Director accompanies every
departure.
All meals on board are prepared by accomplished chefs and consist of local food
adjusted for North American tastes. There is a full buffet breakfast, and in Europe
a buffet lunch including choice of soups and main courses with appetizer, salad
or sandwich, and dessert. On the Yangtze, a mix of Western and Chinese dishes is
offered; in the Galápagos, you'll be able to taste some Ecuadorian specialties.
In Egypt the cuisine is a mix of Western and Eastern dishes. Dinner is a multi-course
meal with a choice of entrées. In Egypt the cuisine is a mix of Western and Eastern
dishes.
In Europe: Most of the countries you will be visiting in Europe use the Euro.
Exceptions are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania; they all have
their own currencies but the Euro is accepted in many establishments. Many locations
accept major credit cards; however in small towns they are not widely accepted.
In these cases and for incidentals or small vendors, you will need some local currency.
ATM machines are located on shore at some stops. Prior to your departure, confirm
with your bank that your ATM or credit card and PIN number will work abroad. All
purchases on board are charged to your room account. For payment of shipboard accounts,
Euro and U.S. dollars are accepted as well as American Express, Visa, Mastercard
and Diner's Club. A fee is charged for the use of traveler's checks. Personal checks
cannot be cashed on board.
In China: U.S. dollars are widely accepted on shore. The local currency is
the Yuan. ATM machines will dispense yuan or they can be purchased on board the
ship using U.S. dollars. The currency on board is the yuan. Shipboard accounts can
be settled in cash, traveler's checks or most major credit cards.
In Southeast Asia: Although, each country has its own currency including
the Riel (Cambodia), Dong (Vietnam), Bhat (Thailand), and Kip (Laos), U.S. dollars
are widely accepted in each country. ATMs are available in most large cities and
will dispense the local currency. The currency on board is the U.S. dollar. Shipboard
accounts can be settled by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or with cash. Traveller's
cheques are not accepted.
In Ecuador: Ecuador uses US Dollars as their official currency. Credit cards
are usually accepted in larger towns. In smaller towns cash is recommended. Shipboard
accounts can be settled by credit card, cash or travelers checks.
In Egypt: The official currency in the Egyptian pound, but Euros and US Dollars
are widely accepted. In small towns it is recommended to carry small amounts of
local currency, but vendors in tourist areas are likely to accept US Dollars. Credit
cards are usually accepted in larger towns. ATMs are available in most larger cities.
Shipboard accounts can be settled by credit card or with cash. Travelers checks
are not accepted.
When it comes to dining, you'll savor your destination in more ways than one. Whether
you're planning a busy day of sightseeing or a relaxing day on board, start each
day with the breakfast that's right for you! Sumptuous breakfast buffets feature
menu items that are conveniently color coded to indicate foods that are low calorie,
low fat/low calorie, high fiber, low cholesterol, and high energy. Meanwhile, tantalizing
lunch buffets will please your palate, and each onboard sit-down dinner features
an inviting selection of appetizers, soups, entrees (including vegetarian choices),
desserts, and complimentary coffee, tea, and regional wines. From the rouladen of
Germany to the fine wines of France, our professional chefs will delight your tastebuds
with regional specialties as well as Western favorites (complimentary wine, beer
or soft drinks will be included with dinner on Avalon Europe river cruises). And
for those times when a quiet breakfast sounds appealing, room service of Continental
breakfast is available in all staterooms and suites on our European ships.
Electricity on board is 220v. The bathrooms have a dual 220v/110-120v plug for shavers
and small appliances. You will need an adapter or converter to use in other outlets
in the stateroom for any small personal items such as a razor, curling iron or alarm
clock. In the Galápagos, electrical outlets are 110v with American type outlets.
Gratuities on board and on land are not included in the cruise price. Tipping is
a personal way to show your satisfaction for good service and is always appreciated.
It is recommended that tips be paid in cash. Alternatively you may choose to prepay
gratuities for the Cruise Director and ships' crew (except for Egypt cruises).
All ships have hair dryers for passenger use; please ask at the reception desk if
one is not in your stateroom.
Laundry service is available on board for a modest fee. Check the price list in
your stateroom. Clothes cannot be dry cleaned on board. For safety reasons, we ask
that passengers do not iron their clothes in the staterooms as this is a safety
hazard; the laundry service will do pressing for a fee.
You may check out books from the ship's library free of charge. We ask that you
return them before your cruise ends.
Due to the proximity to land, medical services can be called from shore rapidly.
In the Galápagos, there is a physician on board.
The onboard daily newsletter features information about daily activities, shore
excursions and tour departure times.
The language on board is English. All staff, crew and tour guides speak English.
All announcements and commentary will be in English.
Each ship has a shop area offering accessories, film, souvenirs and some select
personal and toiletry items.
Ships have in-room safes. In the Galápagos, valuables may be stored in the ship's
safe free of charge.
In Europe and in the Galápagos, all ships have non-smoking interiors. Smoking is
only permitted on the Sky Deck. On vessels in Egypt and China smoking is limited
to certain areas of the ship. On the Mekong smoking is only permitted on the Sun
Deck.
Passengers celebrating special occasions, such as anniversaries or birthdays, should
alert ship personnel upon boarding the ship. Special services are available (some
free of charge) on Europe cruises.
Each stateroom has a direct dial telephone which may be used to call between staterooms.
Ship-to-shore calls are also available. Any charges are placed on your shipboard
account. In the Galápagos and on the Kasr Ibrim on Lake Nasser in Egypt, there are
two satellite-linked pay phones available for use in the reception lounge. On the
Mekong a phone is available for emergencies if needed.
Each stateroom has color satellite TV and will receive some English programming.
There is a shipboard information channel and a channel with entertainment videos
or movies. A TV is found in the ship's library in the Galápagos only. There is no
television service on Lake Nasser or on the Mekong.
For your convenience, all purchases and paid services on board are billed with a
guest check and added to your personal shipboard account.
What are some nautical terms you need to know while river cruising?
AFT toward the stern of the boat
ASTERN in back of the boat
BILGE the interior of the hull below the floor boards
BITTER END the last part of a rope or chain; the inboard end of the anchor rope
BOW the forward part of a ship
BRIDGE the location from which a vessel is steered and its speed controlled
BULKHEAD a vertical partition separating compartments
BUOY an anchored float used for marking a position or a hazard on the water and
for mooring
CLEAT a fitting to which lines are made fast
COURSE the direction in which a ship is steered
CURRENT the horizontal movement of water
DISPLACEMENT the weight of water displaced by a floating vessel
DRAFT the depth of water a boat draws
FATHOM six feet
FLOOD an incoming current
GALLEY the kitchen area of a ship
GUNWHALE the upper edge of a ship's sides
HELM the wheel or tiller controlling the rudder
HULL the main body of a vessel
KEEL the centerline of a boat running fore and after
KNOT a measure of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,076 feet) per hour
LEEWARD the direction away from the wind
NAUTICAL MILE one minute of latitude; approximately 6,076 feet—about 1/8 longer
than the statute mile of 5,280 feet
PORT the left side of a ship looking forward; a harbor
SCUPPERS drain holes on deck, in the toe rail, or in bulwarks or in the deck itself
SOUNDING a measurement of the depth of water
STARBOARD the right side of a ship when looking forward
TRIM fore and aft balance of a boat
WINDWARD toward the direction from which the wind is coming
YAW to swing or steer off course
What should you know about locks and the canals?
The diverse and fascinating geography of the European Continent has blessed it with
magnificent and varied natural sights. Mountain ranges such as the Swiss Alps, the
French Vosges, Germany's Fichtelgebirge and Black Forest region have given birth
to the great rivers of Europe which have provided most important transportation
links since ancient times.
Before the advent of highways and road transportation, the rivers were the only
efficient method of carrying goods from one place to another. Those most important
trading centers located on a river soon grew into some of Europe's most important
cities—Budapest and Vienna on the Danube, Strasbourg and Cologne on the Rhine, Mainz
and Frankfurt on the Main, Coblenz and Trier on the Moselle to name but a few!
The challenge facing the early navigators was how to tame the rivers and make them
navigable along their entire lengths. One of the answers was the invention and development
of the lock.
Normally, water levels on each side of a navigation lock are different, so a lock
has to work like an elevator. This is accomplished by using two sets of gates to
enclose a chamber.
The lock starts with one set of gates open, and the water level in the chamber is
the same as the water in the channel on that side. A vessel enters through the open
gates.
Once the vessel is moored inside the lock chamber, the lock operator closes the
lock gates behind the vessel.
With the vessel securely tied up and the gates closed, the lock operator can then
open the valves at the opposite end of the lock. To adjust the water level in the
lock chamber to match the water level of the waterway on the opposite end, water
is allowed to enter into the chamber from the high-water side, or drained out of
the chamber to the low-water side, thus raising or lowering the ship.
Once the water levels are equalized, the gates at that end are opened and the vessel
can continue on its way.
The Main-Danube Canal is an old dream of humanity. Charlemagne started the construction
of its "Fossa Carolina" more than 12 centuries ago, and while his construction effort
failed, parts of the canal are still visible in southern areas of central Franconia.
King Ludwig I of Bavaria built the first fully functioning Main-Danube Canal in
only 10 years of construction from 1836-1846. Yet, the Ludwig-Main-Danube Canal
as it was called, with its 101 water locks was rather narrow and its practical use
for shipping was highly limited. Its operation came to an end in 1945, partly due
to damage from the war.
The planning of the present canal dates back to 1922. A project of this magnitude
caused a lively debate over the environmental and economic consequences of its construction.
Economic planners gravely overestimated its potential, while environmentalists largely
underestimated the positive aspects of its construction for the biotope—and the
fact that the canal actually provides 1,25 million cubic meters of water to the
dry Northern Bavarian region every year.
It was not until September 1992 that the present-day Main-Danube Canal was opened
for traffic. It stretches for a length of 106 miles from Bamberg, in Germany, via
Nuremberg to Regensburg.
The canal reaches its apex 1,332 ft. above sea level. 16 water locks facilitate
safe passage of vessels. 11 water locks were needed to overcome the ascent of 574
ft. between the Main in Bamberg and the apex and 5 additional locks facilitate descent
from the apex. The canal is 180 ft. wide and 13 ft. deep. All traffic water locks
are 40 ft. wide and 623 ft. long.
Thanks to the canal, it is now possible to navigate from the Rhine Delta at Rotterdam,
Holland, to the Danube Delta at the Black Sea—a stretch of 2,200 miles.
Vacation prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and do not include airfare
except as noted on the itinerary pages. Single room supplements and triple room
reductions are listed where applicable; not all accommodation types are available
on all vacations. We encourage full deposit early to secure your space and to protect
the price of your vacation. Prices are subject to increase without notice, subject
to the guarantees set forth below.
Once Avalon has received your full non-refundable land/cruise deposit your vacation
price is guaranteed and you are protected against any base land/cruise price increase
due to currency surcharge. Any subsequent cost increases are at our expense, not
including energy cost increases and/or any government tax increases.
If you purchase air through Avalon, An additional non-refundable air deposit ($250
per person for 2012 departures or $300 per person for 2013 departures) is required
to protect your air fare price. Please note that Avalon reserves the right to ticket
passengers upon receipt of full land and air deposit. Thus any changes at your request
made after receipt of your full deposit are subject to airline-imposed change fees
and/or changes in airfare price. These fees are your responsibility to pay and will
be required at time of request. This includes name changes or name alterations.
Air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and is only
available when booked in conjunction with a land/cruise vacation.
If you form your own group, you'll receive the following rebates: On river cruises,
one person travels free in a group of 16. These group rebates do not apply to any
international or intra-vacation flights. Free land and cruise arrangements are credited
at the twin rate; single room and stateroom supplements must be paid in full.
For single travelers who prefer the privacy of their own room and stateroom, single
accommodation can, of course, be requested. Call for single room supplements. On
European and Southeast Asia river cruises: Guaranteed shares are available in select
categories. If you are traveling alone but prefer to share a cabin, we will try
to match you up with a single traveler of the same gender. Please call our Travel
Consultant for details.
If you'd like to add extra hotel nights, we will try to make arrangements for you
at our contracted rates. Rates are per person, per night, and include room with
private bath, breakfast, service charges and taxes. Extra hotel nights are only
available immediately prior to or after your vacation and are not available on some
cruise-only vacations. If your vacation includes a hotel stay, every effort will
be made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your vacation stays. If space
at the hotel is not available, alternative accommodation will be reserved at a hotel
of equivalent standard. When this is the case, the transfer to and from the included
hotel is at our expense. During particularly busy periods, hotel space in certain
cities can become so tight that we may be unable to sell extra nights.
Avalon is proud to be associated with some of the finest establishments worldwide.
Many of them belong to famous chains such as Westin, InterContinental, and Hilton.
The specific hotels we have selected for you are listed separately for each vacation.
The vast majority of them are Deluxe (D), Superior First-Class (SF), or First-Class
(F) establishments. In a few overnight places, where there is no hotel in these
categories, we choose the best available (BA) hotels.
Avalon hotel ratings follow the standards set by the independent Hotel & Travel
Index and by national tourist boards. The specific rating for each contract hotel
is determined by our quality controllers.
We reserve the right to substitute hotels listed on the itinerary pages with hotels
of equivalent standard. With your Avalon travel documents you'll receive a list
of hotel addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for your vacation.
In our many years of cruising experience, we have found that children under the
age of eight typically are too young to fully enjoy a cruise vacation. Because of
this and for the safety and enjoyment of all passengers, we do not accept children
under eight years of age. In addition, please note that there are no special arrangements
or activities for children on our ships.
Avalon will send you a set of travel documents, which includes a copy of your itinerary,
and, where applicable, information on your hotels and optional excursions.
All Avalon ships in Europe have complimentary 3G WI-FI available for in-room use,
as well as public computers with Internet connections in the Internet Corner. To
access the ship's Wi-Fi network you will be given a PIN number at the reception
to use on your laptop to access the Internet.
Avalon Waterways makes reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled
and mobility impaired travelers but is not responsible in the event it is unable
to do so. Because we cannot provide individual assistance to travelers in many situations,
and most of our transportation services are not equipped with wheelchair ramps,
we recommend that you view our terms and conditions for details and contact us to
learn more.
Avalon is committed to minimizing its impact on the environment and to reducing
its dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented
policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products
with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all
relevant legislation and/or regulations.
Avalon maintains a policy of "Leave Only Footprints and Take Only Photos". Our staff
and major service providers strive to ensure that no removal of any natural or cultural
artifacts or materials to ensure our environment looks and functions the same before
and after our visit. Our cruise directors educate passengers on our "do no harm"
code of conduct to ensure that the passengers comply.
When traveling outside the United States, a passport is required for U.S. citizens.
Some countries also require a visa. If you are a U.S. citizen, detailed visa information
will be provided to you after you book your vacation. Non-U.S. citizens should consult
with appropriate consulates to determine if any visas are needed. Avalon's preferred
supplier of visa services is Zierer Visa Service (Visa Central).
Group Vacations
We know what you’re thinking, “Aren't I already traveling with a group when I choose
an river cruise vacation?” Well, in fact, you are. But you may be looking to travel
with a special group of people on your river cruise vacation, in which case we’d
like to give you a little extra attention, and when applicable, a discount.
River cruises are ideal for group travel. Planning a family reunion? Putting together
a special vacation in celebration of big wedding anniversary? Want to reconnect
with people you met on your last ocean cruising vacation? The types of groups we
can cater to are as varied as our vacations.
Let Avalon Waterways take extra special care of your group. Not only will we make
it easier on you, the vacation coordinator, but our vacations guarantee your group
will come away with lasting memories. Your group will be talking about their trip
for years to come.
Let’s get started.
Travel is responsible for some of life’s most memorable moments. Celebrating a life
milestone or simply enjoying the vacation of a lifetime are just a few of the reasons
people crave to travel. And when people can share those experiences with friends
and loved ones, those memories last forever. Group travel is fun, rewarding and
sometimes even life changing. So gather some of your closest confidents and plan
a group vacation with Avalon.
Vacation choices & the newest ships - Avalon offers a variety of cruise vacations
in Europe, Egypt, Asia and the Galapagos Islands. And you will always travel on
the newest ships on the world’s waterways. In Europe, our six ship fleet is the
youngest in the industry and provides boutique-like experiences as you sail. In
our other worldwide destinations, we partner with some of the newest and most accommodating
ships sailing. Avalon travelers get the best on-land experiences, thanks to all
excursions being operated by Globus, the world’s leader in escorted travel. And
all on-board dinners include local wine.
Discounts for group travelers - It only takes eight passengers to form a
group for any of our river cruise vacations and earn credit for half price land
and cruise. Plus the 16th traveler travels for free (cruise and land only). The
discount can be divided among your group to save everyone a little on the price
of their vacation or to treat a special person in your group, such as your mother
as a surprise for her 60th birthday. *Applies to most Avalon European river cruises.
Call for details.
Specialized Group Department - If you have questions or are ready to book,
we have specialized reservation agents who are ready to serve you. Whether it’s
a small family reunion or a large affinity trip, our group department can work with
you to put together the perfect vacation. They understand the uniqueness of group
travel and will ensure that your booking process is smooth and effortless.
Trust - As part of the Globus family of brands, Avalon is backed by 80 years
of travel experience. Couple that with our $11 million consumer protection plan
and you can rest assured that your group is traveling with a credible, safe and
longstanding company.